The NSW Police Marine Area Command unveiled two new high-performance tactical patrol boats on Sunday [1].

This upgrade enhances the state's ability to manage maritime security and emergency responses. The new vessels provide critical capabilities for search-and-rescue, and counter-terrorism operations along the New South Wales coastline [1].

The total cost of the upgrade is $1.8 million [2]. The two vessels [1] will be stationed at strategic hubs in Newcastle and Port Kembla to ensure rapid response times across different sectors of the coast [1].

These tactical boats replace older rigid-hulled inflatable boats that had been in service for more than 15 years [3]. The aging equipment had become less efficient for the demanding nature of modern maritime policing, a gap the new high-performance craft are designed to close [1].

By modernizing the fleet, the Marine Area Command aims to increase the speed and agility of its interceptions. This allows officers to better monitor maritime traffic and respond to threats in real time [1]. The deployment is part of a broader effort to secure the state's waters against illegal activity and improve safety for the public [1].

“The total cost of the upgrade is $1.8 million.”

The replacement of 15-year-old equipment with high-performance tactical vessels indicates a shift toward more specialized, rapid-response maritime security. By positioning the boats in Newcastle and Port Kembla, the NSW Police are optimizing their geographic reach to cover key industrial ports and coastal regions, reducing response windows for counter-terrorism and rescue missions.